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cinjaja
cinjaja
Participant
April 2, 2019
Answered

How can I export photos from LR with preservation of the date?

  • April 2, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 420 views

I have been searching a lot for this, but could't find the right answer here or on the web, so my apologies if this has been asked before.

How can I export photos from LR Classic CC (latest version), with preservation of the date (I mean, the exact date & time, when the photo is taken)?
So I can see my photos in the right order of taken date & time in finder?

I'm a LR beginner and can't seem to find this option while exporting. I already have the box checked that all meta dates are included. And tried to export with the taken date included in the name, but that isn't exactly what I'm looking for. I would like to see them in the right order of time to in Finder... Is this possible? And how?

Any help would highly be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Conrad_C

cinjaja  wrote

So I can see my photos in the right order of taken date & time in finder?

There is only one way to do this, and that is to add the date and time into the exported filename, using the file renaming tokens in the Export dialog box. Then you use the Name sorting option.

The reason is that the Mac Finder does not have any way to sort media by EXIF Capture Date. None of the four date sorting options in the Finder (Modified, Created, Last Opened, or Added) uses the camera Capture Date of a photo. All of those look at the file system date, not the EXIF Capture Date from the camera. That's why you have to put the date and time in the filename, so that the files will sort by date and time when you sort by Name.

I think the Windows desktop can sort by EXIF Capture Date, but the Mac Finder desktop can't. Which is unfortunate because I'm a Mac user too.

2 replies

Conrad_C
Community Expert
Conrad_CCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 3, 2019

cinjaja  wrote

So I can see my photos in the right order of taken date & time in finder?

There is only one way to do this, and that is to add the date and time into the exported filename, using the file renaming tokens in the Export dialog box. Then you use the Name sorting option.

The reason is that the Mac Finder does not have any way to sort media by EXIF Capture Date. None of the four date sorting options in the Finder (Modified, Created, Last Opened, or Added) uses the camera Capture Date of a photo. All of those look at the file system date, not the EXIF Capture Date from the camera. That's why you have to put the date and time in the filename, so that the files will sort by date and time when you sort by Name.

I think the Windows desktop can sort by EXIF Capture Date, but the Mac Finder desktop can't. Which is unfortunate because I'm a Mac user too.

cinjaja
cinjajaAuthor
Participant
April 3, 2019

Thank you!
That was a very helpful answer! I completely missed the 'edit' option below in the drop-down menu where you can edit the name of the export files. I thought I could only edit & add the date in the file-name, but now I see I can also add the time. That'll work for me! (Mac user indeed).
Super thanks!

johnrellis
johnrellis
Legend
April 2, 2019
I already have the box checked that all meta dates are included.

Just to double-check, I assume you mean that you are using this Export setting:

Initial troubleshooting:

1. Did the original photos being exported come from a digital camera or a scanner?

2. What application or utility are you using to examine the capture date in the exported photos?

cinjaja
cinjajaAuthor
Participant
April 3, 2019

Yes, that's the checked box I mean.
And I use Finder (to scroll to my photos and select them to be printed).

In Finder I would like them in the right order of date & time instead of the export date only.

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